Ultra high frequency turret tuner with uniform band spread on all bands



Oct. 29, 1957 J. P. o-BRIEN ULTRA HIGH FREQUENCY TURRET TUNER WITH UNIFORM BAND SPREAD ON ALL. BANDS l 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 26, 1953 Oct. 29, 1957 J, P. OBRIEN ULTRA HIGH FREQUENCY TURREI TUNER WITH UNIFORM BAND SPREAD oN ALL BANDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 26, 1953 INVENTOR. l Jah/N "E 5R/EN Oct. 29, 1957 J. P. o'BRlEN 2,811,637

ULTRA HIGH FREQUENCY TURRET TUNER WITH UNIFORM BAND SPREAD ON ALL. BANDS Fled'May 26, 1955 5 Shees-Sheet 3 31/ SLM Oct. 29, 1957 J. P. oBRn-:N 2,811,537

ULTRA HIGH FREQUENCY TURRET TUNER WITH UNIFORM BAND SPREAD ON ALL BANDS Filed May 26, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet J4 INI/EN TOR. Jawv E @25e/5N www ct. 29, 1957 J,

ULTRA HIGH FREQUENCY TURRET TUNER WITH P. O'BRIEN UNIFORM BAND SPREAD ON ALL BANDS Filed May 26, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .NN lmmll ,va/naaf nadamas/imm.; iwv/al/f da Mauna/W INVENTOR. Jax/N F @Zi/6N yof ch lnitecl States Pateit ULTRA HIGH FREQUENC,YTURREI` TUNERl WITH UNIFORM BAND SPREAD 0N ALLA BANDS John P. Olrien, Huntington, N. Y.', assignortov Standard Coil Products Co., Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Illinois Application May 26, 195s, serihl'Nh: 357,495' 7 claims; (ci. s-6) The present invention relates toltlelevision tnnersand moreI specifically it relates to tele/vision tuners operable at ultra-high frequencies; l I n It is welll known in' the art that' essentially two etlids of tuning have evolved during the odeve'lop'rnentV of U. H. F. television' tuners; namely, continuous' tuning ancldiscrete channel step tuning. Y ,y K y v V O f the twolmethods, the second hasv consiidf le advantages due to the ease with which channel selection Vcan beniad'el since, by discrete tuning, onecan'v select a channel without `havingl to accurately align the tn'er to the correct channel frequency.' v y One ofthe most important problems encountered in they dvelopment of such discrete television tunersis that of accurately tuning at all ultra-high freqiencie'sf where, as well known, the use of luinped constants becomes poiile' It was fn'd, in fact, that atv the highest u'lta ifghffvr'equencies, ar'oond 1,0 Q iheg'acycles, the tuniiig nductance for an oscillator ray consist solely of a short circuit.

other probliiil was thatl of obtai'riiiigl equalv vband spread for' the U. `H; I?.l oscillator egafdlssxqf thefrequh'cy at which the sctuatrhperatjes. ,This prhieih arises from the fact thatveaclit channel isfgiv'esn a' bandofy 'megacycles'vvvhe -er atl` V F. oi` the a single variable tuning element isusredft'r op lgifffsaulhl ari'gimia'y encomp A y nels when Operating#hishttquhsi: Y tlie saine'angle would'encorii'p'ssa much larger number "'nnels';

'aitlii'stirete` tner it isiiece'ssa'ry to have y sta'ritbalidfsprcad so that a'tfre'a'ch` position'` o tunen' only Vthe"rdesiregjsix me'gacycles corr' clia'inel selectedl arejp'ars's'ejd t'o the` utilization 'i'ruisfo'f the television set.' Toiiiicr'ease tlief eafse of selecting televis'inchannelsiaiso-cal ,dkdecimal type" of dis'retetining can beused. Iii suclilaj'systerii'; rthewhole television range is divided i'nto la number ofmliids, each oftliese lian'd'sjvconiprising ten" channels. y(The operation of such aqdwitnal type" discrete tunerv niay tV en; consist of two st'eps; the selection of the' b'aiidI and the selection of' a channel within that band. g Y

Since in the decimal system eachband consists of ten channels, each band will encompass sixty megacycles. In addition, inV order to select with ease an individual channel among those; in a certain band, it is necessary to provide a tuning elenient so that the rate .ofy change of the frequency with respect to'the'angula'r rotationv of the element will be always equal to a constant. This means that equal angular rotation of the tuning element' should give equal changes of' frequency. Y

The problem encountered with thetuning of the oscillator' at the highest U. H. F. frequencies appears' also in the preselector, which is the stage iinmedit'elylollowing Patented Oct. 29, 1957 lelements Ifor both )theoscillator and the `preseectoi are hihi I froihgjy the' lowest to the v highest rrequenci'es' of operation. These tuning elements serve to 'tion f 'each band;

f1 ever' achffahge aan hasv a lspreadof exactly m acycle between minimum and maximum' rotao, ohjeet f themen-ht i1 vehtiohvis' the" fhvis of controlled tuning lements atl the highest Ff frequencies t.. t i i 'o Tri* iuatjgr f thieprhsht that; consists' of high file withlt'nin'g eli'neiitsl switched in beits plate and its'V grid. The t'uiiig elements are inductances in series with the plate andthe grid` and conri `t`e"t"x eachother thrlii'gh a iixed and a variable band n aid capacitance' .in` parallel. The variable capacitance p't'rnfiitsQ accurate vt'rimr'ni'ng' of the oscillator. v Y, Stationarilyconnected to .the oscillator tiibeter'riiinals i a' set' of iiile contacts of a wafer switch, in this emb ent', circlarlyshaped. The female elements of the wa er switchare vmounted on the circumferencelofwcirdielectric plates'. Thel male contacts are mounted as" dose" assassine, te the," phfs hf thev sc'iuat'r' t'uhe and thev tuning elements; ih this ease ihtihcthjs, are y, o 'ected across each pair. of female contacts a very sli'orteflectricalpath existsibtween the tube pins' and lthe i elements. By'4 ymean's',veve'n at the highest y, ncies" it'i's possible tolli'se easily controllable lumped inductancesi Q, v s'fthhuhtd very; ipsltojthe'lha'seof the' sc'iu'atr tube `i a'cliniiel selecting capacitor consisting of corid vepltesijhavihg -t their e'hdsiaqther ,set of. nime coiltactslor tlieprcvioiisly mentioned wafer switch@ A die ctriclor :conductive 'P' te.whose'coiisiructioiilyvill be described' hereinafter' ifs" movable betweent e plates' to vary' the Ycapaci'tance at' such a rateAV thatA equal A angular rotation, corresponds teqiial frequency changesv regardless f'tll'rliositi `'of',tlietilrier inthefrequency range.VV

p .ampieteiiyjihstinttxihan the chssis :hy the pip, vision an insulating shaft/so that, electrically,-it will be -ila tlieantenna connections. The preselecltortoo' rnst bei slaft'prvidd'with'psitininginiaiisicorresponding to the accurate contact making position between the previously mentioned dielectric plate mounted female contacts and stationarily mounted male contacts.

Means are also provided for varying slightly the inductance of the tuning elements and the capacitance of the band spread capacitors. In the case of inductances, a non-conducting coil form may be introduced in the coil and a screw inserted therein so that the position of the screw will determine the inductance of the coil. Similar- 1y, a screw within a dielectric cylinder may be positioned between two plates of any form such that variation of the position of the screw will determine the capacitance between the plates.

It is necessary to point out that these trimming elements are mounted on the dielectric plates and are easily accessible from the outside.

Accordingly, another object of the present invention is the provision of very short paths between the pins of the oscillator tube and the tuning elements to reduce the stray inductances.

The preselector of the tuner of the present invention can be constructed in a similar way to reduce lead or contact inductances.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of very short paths between the tuning elements and ground of the preselector to reduce stray inductances.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of means for varying the inductance of the tuning elements and the capacitance of the band spread control capacitors.

In addition, it was found that in orderto have more control over inductance at the high frequencies series capacitors may be connected to the tuning inductances. The addition of these series capacitances results not only in more controlled inductance but also in less shunting capacitance necessary to produce the desired sixty megacycle band spreads at the high bands.

Another object of the present invention is, therefore, the provision of means for producing constant band spreads at the high end of the ultra-high frequency range and for making possible the use of larger controllable inductances.

Similar series capacitors are also connected to the tuning inductances of the preselector at the highest `frequency bands and they provide also a means for controlling the band spread.

A further object of the present invention is, therefore, the provision of means for controlling the band spread and for making possible the use of physically large controllable inductances.

The problems encountered in the preselector and overcome `by the present invention are essentially as pointed out above, those described in connectionwth the oscillator, but in the mixer section if a low capacity link is used as the injecting device for injecting the oscillator signals into the mixer, as the oscillator frequency is varied over any given pass band the injection current through the mixer varies, thereby changing the pass band response between different oscillator settings on the same band. The reason for this phenomenon is that for a fixed pass band preselector with the oscillator operating at approximately forty megacycles higher than the incoming signals the oscillator frequency moves from a point on the pass band to the skirt outside the pass band as the oscillator is tuned from minimum to maximum frequency over a given band. Hence, the impedance given to the oscillator injection varies over the band; the mixer current varies, and the impedance presented by the mixer changes causing a variation in the pass band.

To overcome this difficulty a compensating device is used in the present invention. This compensating device consists essentially of a conductive strip provided at one end with a spring section actuated by the shaft of the variable capacitor. The spring strap `serves as a coupling means to the output of the oscillator and if the end of the variable capacitor shaft is properly shaped, rotation of this shaft will cause movement of the strap with respectto the oscillator terminal, thus providing a compensation for the effects described above through equal and opposite impedance changes.

By the use of such a method of injection, the injection current was found to vary by a very small ratio with consequent good band pass stability with respect to changes in oscillator frequency over any given band. It was also found that the ratio of maximum injection current on any one band to minimum current on any other band was within acceptable values.

Another object of the present invention is, therefore, a device for compensating for changes in impedance pre sented by the mixer which might cause variations in the pass band.

Actually the injection method described above provides variable coupling only at the oscillator end and not at the mixer end, which is quite satisfactory in the case of a preselector capable of selecting sixty megacycle bands in the U. H. F. region but not individual channels in the sixty megacycle bands.

When the preselector is provided with a straight line frequency variable capacitor to permit selection of individual channels in each band, as in another embodiment of the present invention, the injection system consists of two conductive plates secured to or an integral part of the oscillator variable capacitor and the preselector variable capacitor to which the plate of the oscillator tube and the mixer crystal are, respectively, connected. ln addition to these conductive plates, the common shaft carrying the movable plates of the two capacitors is provided With a silver or other conductive plating tapered at the two ends, where capacitive action exists between the silver plating on the shaft and the two stationary conductive plates. The tapering is arranged so that since the shaft rotates only through a predetermined number of degrees less than 360, capacitive coupling between the stationary plates and the silver plating decreases as the capacitance of the capacitor decreases or as the corresponding frequency increases.

By such an injection method it is possible to obtain optimum mixing at all frequencies of tbe desired frequency region.

Accordingly, a further object of the present invention is the provision of means for varying the injection from oscillator to mixer at both ends, namely at the output of the oscillator and at the input of the mixer.

To an input of the television tuner is connected a novel broad band U. H. F. impedance transformer which, in this particular embodiment, serves to transform the 300 ohm impedance presented by the twin lead transmission line from the antenna to the ohm input impedance of the tuner. This novel transformer consists of a short section of twin leads from the 300 ohm transmission line connected to two more sections in parallel of the same twin lead type. These two sections are followed by three more sections of the same type also in parallel.

Such an input transformer has an average standing wave ratio which is close to one from 400 megacycles to 900 megacycles, that is, throughout the U. H. F. range.

Another object of thc present invention is, therefore, an impedance transformer having a small and constant standing wave ratio throughout the U. H. F. range.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is the circuit diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1A is a detail drawing of thc tuner of the present invention showing its high frequency tuning clements.

Figure 2 is the circuit diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the tuner of Figure l.

l necessary equal band spread of sixty megacycles for operation at the desired U. H. F. frequencies.

Capacitor 85, on the other hand, serves through its variation to obtain selection of a channel in the U. H. F. band tuned in by means of inductances 92 and 9S.

At the highest U. H. F. bands, it is found that the magnitudes of inductances 92 and 98 must be very small, thus making frequency control by means of inductances 92 and 98 ditiicult at those frequencies. To improve control over frequency at the highest U. H. F. bands, capacitors 93 and 99 (see Figure la) are connected in series to inductances 92 and 98, respectively, where inductances 92 and 98 are the ones to be connected to plate 75 and grid 71 of tube 60 to cause tube 60 to oscillate at these highest U. H. F. bands. By the addition of capacitors 93 and 99, the number of turns of coils 92 and 98 can be increased considerably, thus providing the necessary amount of control over the frequency of oscillation of tube 60.

Injection device 110 consists in one example of a conductive strip having at one end a conductive section 111 which capacitively couples the output from oscillator 60 obtained from one plate of variable capacitance S to the conductive strap 110. The conductive strap 110 serves to conduct the oscillator signals to mixer 48 to which it is also capacitively coupled at 115.

lt is important to point out that the novel oscillator will switch in sixty megacycles bands in large steps when the correct inductances 92 and 9S are connected between the grid 71 and the plate 75 of tube 60. through operation of capacitance the oscillator 60 will tune in six megacycle bands corresponding to individual channels. Each set of circuits 92-93-102 (Figure l) or 92--93-98--99-102 (Figure la), therefore, tunes in sixty megacycles at different frequencies from approximately 400 to approximately 900 megacycles while the single capacitor 85 is capable of selecting any channel within each band by continuous rotation of the same.

In other words, capacitor 85 `varies the frequency linearly through sixty megacycles over each range; or, to

be more precise, capacitor 85 varies the frequency linearly over each range and has a spread of exactly sixty megacycles.

It is also necessary to point out that male contacts 74 and 76 are connected as close as possible to the pins of tube 6AF4 so that the smallest amount of stray inductance is introduced in the circuit by the connections. This and the addition of series capacitances 93 and 99 makes the magnitude of inductances 92 and 98 at the highest U, H. F. bands such that they may be easily controlled.

Inductances 92 and 98 are actually variable to permit the tuning operation during assembly or installation of the television set.

Similarly, in order to adjust the band spread, capacitors 102 are also made adjustable.

As for the band preselector which uses tuning elements 31 and 38, inductances 22 and 45 represent the basic input and output inductances with taps 21 and 47, respectively, for input and output connections at proper impedance levels. Capacitances 23 and 46, as previously mentioned, are variable and are adjusted to resonate with inductances 22 and 45, respectively, at a basic frequency lower than the lowest frequency in the U. H. F. television band.

The switched-in inductances 31 and 38 serve to in` crease the resonant frequency in sixty megacy-cle lsteps when connected in parallel with inductances 22 and 45 respectively.

Capacitor 40, which is adjustable, is different for every sixty megacycle band, each capacitor being adjusted for proper coupling on each band.

In the embodiment shown in Figures l and 3, a ground plane 120 is extended from the grounding block 121 to which malecontacts 25 and 43 are tixedly connected. The

detector 48, in this case a 1N82 crystal, is tapped to the In addition,

. 8 output coil 45 at its appropriate point 47. It will be noted that inductances 22 and 45 are connected to capacitance 23 and 46, respectively, and all grounded on the grounding block 121.

As will be described in more detail hereinafter, coils 31 and 38 mounted on insulating discs 30 and 35 have their grounding ends 123 and 124, respectively, connected by means of short lengths of wire to a grounding block mounted on the conducting shaft. As described later, these Wires form a spider and serve to make it impossible for suck-outs to be produced by coils other than the ones switched in on any band. These suck-outs create otherwise spurious responses in the desired pass band. By means of this grounding spider such suck-outs are eliminated.

In another embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 2, the band preselector is provided with tuning capacitors and 131 on the input and output side, respectively, of the preselector. Correspondingly, variable capacitance 46 is eliminated.

It will be noted that all of the elements that were described in Figure l have been given the same numerals in Figure 2.

Capacitances 130 and 131 connected across inductances 22 and 45 respectively track with capacitance 85 of oscillator tube 60 over each sixty megacycle band with a band width of about twenty to thirty megacycles. By means of capacitances 130 and 131, it is thus possible to decrease the pass band from sixty megacycles to 20-30 megacycles within which the desired television channel is located.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, variable capacitor 23 which was previously mentioned varies from .5 to 3.0 micromicrofarads and serves to balance, on the input side, the .capacity of crystal 48 on the output side so that equal band spreads are achieved in both input and output of this preselector.

Referring now to Figure 3 which is the physical embodiment of the circuit diagram shown in Figure l, the novel television tuner consists of a chassis, usually metallic, here denoted by numeral 200.

Chassis 200 is rectangularly shaped and is provided with end plates 201 and 202. Each plate 201 and 202 has a centrally located slot 205 and 206, respectively, ending with an approximately V-shaped portion 207 and 208. The V-shaped portions 207 and 208 serve as stationary bearings for shaft 210 which carries the tuning elements of the novel tuner.

More specifically, mounted on shaft 210 are sets of dielectric plates 30 and 35 for the preselector and 91 and 97 the oscillator. In addition, a metallic disc 212 is rmly secured to shaft 210 in any suitable way, for example, by means of a sleeve 213 xedly secured to shaft 210 by means of, for example, a screw (not shown).

Disc 212 which is provided with peripheral notches 215 corresponding in number to the number of U. H. F. bands in which the U. H. F. range has been divided serves as described more in detail hereinafter to positively position the tuning elements mounted on the dielectric discs 35, 91 and 97 with respect to the stationary parts of the preselector and oscillator circuits, respectively.

For purposes of brevity, only one of thc two dielectric plates 30 and 35 will be here described in detail with the understanding that the other plate, for example 35, may be physically different since it is the physical embodiment of another portion of the electrical circuit shown in Figure l.

In most cases, however, in order to provide for example good balance between the two sides of the preselector, the circuit elements mounted on dielectric plate 30 will be the exact duplicate of those mounted on dielectric plate 35.

Plate 30 is circularly shaped and carries at its outer circumference a plurality of female contacts 26 and 27. Female contacts 26 and 27 consist of two members such '-26 and. 1LT-.by any .apinc-Prine means. 'ter example., .seldery elerrrents on disc 3S and the 4c :orresponding tuning vv40- of which only one ,is :show n in Figure A3. Such ca- -become defective ,after relatively short .life

'animer contact during operation ,of e C each iside fof female contacts 26 and 2.7 iS .areuit consisting .of either a eeil l3.1 .or gt aeqil 3.1.4.@ @series capacitor 3.2, :Inductor 3l andsapaeiter 3.2., or just indueter 3.1 are eleettieally -senseted t #female oflfacts It will be noted that all these electrical elements `31 @1.1.1422 .are mounted .onftheeutereide ef. the drum-termed 'hydis'csl and.35. I n addition, ,connecting the tuning elements on disc 30 are a plurality of .cot1 pli ng,capacitors p acitors must be variable and may .be of the type shown infignres 9 and l0 described yin connection with the os- .eillater -Seetien A91-,97-

s seen 4more clearly in Figure 5, female contacts 26 and 2;7 engage at eachpositionpfshaft 210 as determined by the positioning device 212 male contacts 24 and 25re- .spectivelv vMore specifically, male contact l24 which isL thicker than .the separation between female contact plates 26a anni 2,6:b when not rinthe engaged position causes contacts 26'aQand y2 6b to move apart .against the bias of the spring material of ,which the two contacts are made. i

By `this means a good electricalcontact engagement is obtained between the female contact 261. aud the male contact'24. Of course, the .same engagement is obtained between-the second femalecontact 27 audits male contact 25.

AThe .other plate 3 5 mounted v on shaft 210 and having also on gitsperiphery a series of vfemale contacts 36 and 537 at the position described above for plate 30 has its Vfemale contacts 36 and 37 ,in vengagement with the male contacts 42ar 1d43, respectively. Male contacts 24 and 42 `are shown in the present embodiment as being -bent at one end to engage the outer plates 220 and 221 of v.capacitors 23 and 46, respectively.

As seen in Figure 5, capacitors 23 and 46 vaire each .provided with a mounting yscrew 235 yand-236, respectively, each of which engages a washer 238 and 2,39, respectively,

.then the base 240 of chassis 200 and .finally the appro- .priately'threaded interiors of ceramic cylinders 23,0 and 231. .Screws 23,5 and236inI conjunction with the washers v238 and 239, respectively, serve also las the grounded plate ofcapacitors 23 and 4,6, respectively.

By such a Construction it is possible tv utilize the physical yfeatures of capacitors 23 and V46 to mechanically mount male contacts 24 and 4,2.

.It is now necessary to lpoint out that ,although inthe present embodiment the male contacts were shown as stationary withthe female contacts all .being mounted on thedielectric plates 30, 35, ,9;1.and,97, the reverse arrangement is also possible; that is, placing the male contacts on the dielectric plates vand .thefcmale contacts on the chassis.

The -latter arrangement, however, has the .main vdisadvantage that since thestationary contacts are worn .by the continuous friction of the movable contacts .as they slide around them, the stationary female contacts would If the male contacts are stationary, o-n the other hand, .since they can be made as strong asv desired, .thecontinuous friction .against `them. by the .female movable `contacts will pro- .duce no appreciable wear.

y Positioned between capacitors 46 and.23 is a metallic Vground shield .120. The ,functionof-.shield 1.20 is to provideelectrical separation'betweemthe two portions ofthe the preselectonoflthe prese1tttur r;

.temes .ie ,bressht .auf b' 'from the plane ofbaseZjit).

preselector' and ,more .specifically toa inductive and'vcapaciti H ,b 4' :and their associated ,c

. :1s r I ternal contactsl 245 of Ya caxiallcalile. junction While in lthe present embodimenta'.coaxiallcablejiinction 246 is used lfof connecting former to the preeeleeter yeireuits, anvetller suitable :iiltien .ay besubstituted in itsplacc. A180 congested. betweensreundinableek .12,1 `.anfhplate 221 of capacitor46is lcoil 45 w h`;is th connected to. atar 47.Q`n @11.4.5 of Qbtef irripe'dance relation. Crystal rnixer'fl ,is ,in its'fturn neefesi ,te thefnerallel .com ndlletive e0i1-50 atidycltaee,

Voltage .dividing .netwerk .1, 5 nection with Figure'Y 1 consist'sfof neetedineetes-Wherefhetytb capa magnitude.` The jun :tiorr oiritc b .sy'ster'ri4 to introduce, .the @inputting tlie 1,111.16? iii@ fili? Perteuler.embesliment.lyinadirectly-taten here an arcuate arrn of s 'p'rrngmat tion secured to base 2 4 0 b i screws 252 @ad .253 with.

al 51 havingaiia't porbegieenefterex in errate Heftige- 255@ ses Perben' 255 earn. .twebent sentences? .and .2.5.8, each hai/inea V-Shapefl er?. "e 259 tins,asa'healing for a pin 2 60 .carryingaioller 26,1. Whenfshaft, 21 0 is properly mounted in V shaped blearingsi 2.tl7and .20,8 of v :hassis 200, ,then one, `of, the n ches 215 .of disc 21,12 meunted 0n Sheft.2.1.0 inengagemet with roller EL More preeiselndise 2.12 when sh .1.2.1.0 sneeitiened-in the chassis 201) will 4vbear'ag'- spring engagementisobtaine between vber 250 and its .associated niernber 21'2,mouiited. .on haft 21a If nowthe notchesv215 .are ,properly aligned yvithrespeet te Pair Qfgeetaets nandandt .and .2J/,respectively, vwhenever ches 21.5 engagesthe roller 26.1, theeerjrespollfliilg ele tical elements' mounted 0n dielectric 91.232683012923415 ref CO eeiedthrm'leh contacts 2, 43, 24 and`;2 5 I. tionary circuits-previouslyudescribed. `v l i A' When .shaft 210 .ispttperlkpositioned ,with ,respecnto lchassis 200, the .electrical'pat between',thestationary'electrical circuit 'mounted @on rb of .chassis 2Q!)- ,and

,movable :elemente .mounted e nlfates- 30.- and Yt5 is A.minimum so. thateven .on .the highest :ffrequency ,band

the .controlindnctances Asilchfa'tsa31-and 38 mayconsist of actual coils, in this instance of gauge24.wire.

YIn -addition, .providinga good .ground .suchns the ...grounding .block 121.11m rthe Arshielding .plate .-120 y,results in minimum uncontrolled coupling. f'l`herefore,.,etfectivc connected on both plates 30 and 35 from the appropriate female switch points corresponding to female contacts 27 or 37 to the center shaft 210. The physical configuration of grounding leads 123 or 124 then forms a spider. If in addition to providing these grounding leads some of the coils are properly oriented, the effect of spurious responses may be made negligible.

As previously mentioned, also mounted on shaft 210 is a second pair of dielectric plates 91 and 97 shown more clearly in Figures 6 and 7, respectively. Mounted on dielectric plate 91 are female contact pairs formed of female contacts 90 and 95. Connected between the female contacts 90 and 95 is coil 92 (see Figure l).

The inductance of the coil connected between contacts 90 and 95 may be made variable in a number of ways, for example as shown in Figure 6, by introducing a dielectric coil form 270 in the coil 92 and providing a conductive screw 271 in the interior of coil form 270. Thus, by positioning screw 271 with respect to coil 92, it is possible to vary the inductance of coil 92.

Although not shown in Figure 6 or Figure 7, such an arrangement could be applied to every one of the coils shown there. By such trimming means it is possible to accurately tune for the desired frequency of oscillations of oscillator 60 after the operation of mounting discs 91 and 97 on shaft 210 in chassis 200 of this novel tuner.

Similarly, on plate 97 are mounted pairs of female contacts 96 and 100, across which is connected variable inductance coil 98. Although not so shown, this will take the shape approximately of the components shown in Figure 6 which, as previously mentioned, are mounted on plate 91. It is necessary to point out that at the highest UHF bands capacitors 93 and 99 are placed in series with coils 92 and 98 respectively, to provide a larger amount of controllable inductance.

The coupling between the respective electrical compoi nents mounted on plate 91 and on plate 97 is obtained by means of the variable capacitance 102. This coupling capacitance 102 is shown in Figure 3 schematically as being formed by a pair of twisted wires. Actually, as shown in one embodiment in Figure 9, it is formed of a dielectric cylinder 275 having two ring-shaped plates 276, 277 around it. The screw 278 is movable in the interior of dielectric cylinder 275, and its movement with respect to the plates 276 and 277 which constitute the plates of padding capacitor 102 will cause a variation of the coupling or better a variation in the capacity between plates 276 and 277 and a corresponding coupling variation between the electrical circuits mounted on plate 91 and the corresponding circuits mounted on plate 97.

A modification of such a padding capacitor is shown in Figure 10. In Figure 10, which is a considerably enlarged view of the padding capacitor 102, the center 272 of rivet 273 which together with a similar rivet serves to hold the female Contact 95 is tapped for permitting the position of a small screw 274. By turning screw 274 variation in its proximity from the other plate 97 and the electrical components mounted on plate 97 results in capacity changes in padding capacitor 102. By the insertion of a dielectric material, greater capacity variation may be achieved as desired, although such dielectric material is not shown in Figure 10.

It is here necessary to point out that although only two embodiments such as those shown in Figures 9 and l are here` described in detail for padding capacitor 102,

many other such modifications employing generally the same principles may be arrived at.

Female contacts and 95 on the dielectric plate 91 engage, when shaft 210 is properly positioned with respeci to chassis 200, stationary male contacts 76 and 82.

Male contact 82 is here shown as an integral part of plate 285 of capacitor 85, obtained as an extension of plate 285. V

Male contact 76 is in the form of a conductive blade connected and mounted on the grid fin (not shown) of socket 284 of oscillator tube 60, the oscillator tubes being in this case a 6AF4.

Similarly female contacts 96 and 100 mounted on plate 97 engage at certain angular position of shaft 210, stationary male contacts 74 and 84 respectively, where contact S4 is similar to contact 82 and integral with plate 286 of capacitor 85, and contact 74 is mounted on and connected to the plate fin (not shown) of socket 284 of tube 60.

Plates 285 and 286 of variable capacitorvlSS are mounted on the base 240 of shaft 210 through an insulating board 292. Board 292 is secured to base 240 by means of screws such as 293 or in any other suitable Way. Movable in the interior between plates 285 and 236 is a third plate 295 which serves to vary the capacitance of capacitor 85, that is, the capacitance between plates 285 and 286. Plate 295 which together with stationary plates 285 and 286 must have a specific shape as described hereinafter to provide a straight line frequency characteristic may be made either of a dielectric substance or preferably of a conductive substance such as brass or a combination of the two. Movable plate 295 is carried by an insulating shaft 296 extending through a block 297 and the front plate 291 of chassis 200 so that by applying an appropriate knob (not shown) to the portion 298 of shaft 296 extending beyond chassis 200 it is possible to rotate shaft 296 and plate 295, causing a variation in the capacitance of capacitor 85.

It will be noted that in Figure 8 shaft 295 was shown terminated at the movable plate 295 which is then mounted on shaft 296 by means of a screw 299.

In Figure 3, this mounting means is shown in a modification. There, in fact, shaft 296 continues beyond the capacitor 85 and ends with a transversely cut portion 300. Movable plate 295' is then mounted on shaft 296 in any other suitable way. The necessity for extending shaft 295 and providing its end with a transversely cut portion arises from the fact that, as hereinafter described, it is necessary to have a compensating device for variations in the pass band caused by variations in the impedance presented to the oscillator injection over the band.

More specifically, if a fixed injection method is used to inject signals from the oscillator 60 into the crystal mixer 48, it is found that as the oscillator frequency is varied over any given pass band, the injection current through the detector 48 varies, thereby changing thc pass band response between different oscillator settings on the same band, oscillator settings which are provided by rotation of the previously mentioned shaft 296 and, therefore, variation of capacitance 85.

The reason for this phenomenon is that for a fixed pass bandpreselector such as the one shown in Figures l and 3 and with the oscillator operating approximately forty megacycles higher than the incoming television signal, the oscillator frequency moves from a point on the pass band to the skirt outside the pass band as the oscillator 60 is tuned from minimum to maximum frequency over a given band by variation of capacitance 85.

The compensating device used in the present invention consists of a copper strap having one end appropriately bent and positioned for coupling with the high plate of capacitor 46 and the other side mounted by means of any appropriate means, as for example by screwy 310, to the insulating block 292. To this end is connected-a strip 311 of spring material in close proximity to capacitor` 85.

It is; ofcourse, not necessary to mention that the spring V'material offwhich strip 311 is made must also befa `good conductor. "The end of strip 311 bears against the trans l'versely cut portion 300 of shaft 296 .so that the trans- 'verselycut portion 300 acts asa camand the spring strip 311 as the cam follower'where the cam 300 is operated by rotation of shaft 296. Thus, as the oscillator frequency is'varied by rotation of shaft 296-and corresponding movement' of plate '295 with respect to stationary plates 235 "and"286, the injection take off is changed in Yits distance relation, `that is, in its proximity from stator -plate 285 compensating for the effect described above lthrough equal and 'opposed impedance changes.

It 'was found that the injection current when usingl the above injection method varies over a given band by a very small amount. This results in good band pass stability with 'change in Yoscillator frequency over any given' band.

Irl-addition, it'was found that with the present injection method the ratio of maximum injection current on any one bandy to minimum current on any other band is no greater than l2:1 over theentire U. H. F. spectrum. The above figures are given only toI show the possibilities inherent in sucha compensating'methoi and they are in no way critical for the construction of an injection device.

t wasmentioned before that capacitor 85 must have a straight line frequency characteristic. What is meant isthat capacitor' 85 should through equal angular rotations gothrough the same number of channels regardless ofthe frequency of operation of the oscillator `60 to .'whichfcapacitor S5l is connected. In addition, it should provide, for example, ten channels through a preselected angular rotation of plate 295 Where the tenv channels must "be equally spaced from each other or better by the same angular rotation of shaft'296 it ispossible to go from one channel-to the next and from -thenext to the third and so In other Words, the basic requirement of a'straight line frequency capacitor is that thev rate of changeof frequency 'withy respect to angular rota-tionof the capacitor Vbe equal to a constant. v4"By taking this `requirement into consideration'and the practical configuration of the 'rotor and stat'oriplates such as those shown in Figure 8, -itis possible 'to arrive at'the 4following equation:

`'see Figure v11, vro is the length lof rotor 295-When the l"angular rotation is equal to 0. j

t In other words, ro is the initial radial ldimension o'f mov- 'able plate 29'5'corresponding to an angle of 0 of 0, ri is the radius ofthe circular fopening 3'15 in stator plates V285 andY `Vof capacitor 85 and nally r is the radius fvector ofthe desired locus, fo the highest lfrequency obtainable corresponding 'to lcomplete disengagement be- 4"tween rotor Y3295 vand stators v285 and 286 and, therefore,

to an angle of 0:0.

' ltfisthusseen /at first that rfor one'band of frequencies tob'e'covered l(or 'more exactly for one ratio of highest to Vlowest 'frequencies to be covered Iin a 180 rotation),

therei-s yone universal rotor shape. Conversely,given the `shape of rotor'295, frequency rotation Yrelationship for `onei'ba'nd of frequencies, no adjustments of inductance, "minimum capacity' co, number 'of=stator plates 285, "286 androtoreplates`-`2`95 -and spacing between them can'prolfducefa perfectly ylinear relationship-on another band of tfrec'juenci'esY if thelratiofof rvis ditferentlwherefmin denotesv the lowest frequency of any band corresponding to=a` complete 180 rotation.

For example, if it Yisdesired `to design a straight line frequency capaeitmover the range of 471) to 890 megacycles as would be the case for U. H. F. television continuously tuned :.pr'eselector, zit is possible toassurne;` for ro'itheuvalue-ofunity, for r1- of ro, namelyfa. `The relationship between r0 and ri s usually governed by mechanical design features, clearances, etc.

By the use ofy the previously vmentioned equation, the shape -ofthe rotor 295 can lnow be easily calculated:

Theabove table gives some calculated value of r for the previous example. it should be realized lthat these values are runiversal and can be scaled up or down by simple .multiplication as long as the ratio :of

is maintained the same as originally assumed, for example, 1:3/4. as in this example iro further illustrate the unique dependenee ef yreter Shape on frequencyY ratio, it will be assumed that e straightline. frequency oscillator iste be designed t0 ttaek perfectly with a preselector operating forty megacycles above the incoming television signals. The range in such an oscillator would then be 510 to 930 megacyclesv for U. H. F. operation. The oscillator rotor shape which is the one now under consideration will have to be slightly diiferent from that of' the preselector and governed by the following formula:

where the same ratio v,of roar, was chosen, ,na rr,1ely,` `1:.3/4.

f Mc. -deg. r

The above table giving three points on the locus of the shape of the voscillator rotore-295 indicates the expected discrepancy between oscillator and preselector Thissshows that the oscillator and .pre-

fmin

In -the present oscillator the same straight line frequency variable capacitor 85, usingthe same rotor shape, 'mustbe-.used inleach band. Since, on-theother-hand, the

Y Arotation offplate 295 y(6:1800 er thelewestfrequeney ofenvfbandiis1dierentin each band, the shape effreter 295 must be designed for some intermediate band,f or

.example, in U.;H; 1F. Afor the range -of 669-729 mega- ,.ycles.

The above formula gives r in inches since ro and ri were assumed to be definite values rather than unit values as previously assumedi I1-Mc. B-dcg. r-ln.

This table indicates three points on the locus of the shape of rotor 295 of the oscillator for the previous example. In this case the exact shape can be approximated `by a semi-circle of .43026l radius with a center of rotation displaced by .0240l" from the center of the semi-circle.

The above examples show that the design of the shape of rotor 295 should be the starting point in the design of a straight line frequency capacitor irrespective of circuit values of the inductance, the minimum capacitance desired andthe maximum capacitance desired, namely, Cmin and Cmax.

However, since these circuit values must also follow some relation in accordance with frequency requirements, they are taken into consideration in the next phase of the development of such a capacitor.

In addition to having correctly shaped rotor 295, the following relation musthold for the circuit in which the capacitor is operated if a required band of frequencies is to be covered by this straight line frequency capacitor:

fo )2: Cmax fmin C0 where Cmax is given by 02246K AAM H dnW-I-Cttm auf) where ,zal n.

2 frolla) 1 With the aid of the above equation it is then possible to complete the details of the required straight line frequency capacitor design.

In the abo-ve equation on its right-hand side there is a known fixed quantity determined by the frequency requirements,` an estimate of C0 and a value of Cmx as computed from one of the previously mentioned equations. On the left-hand side appear all the design parameters needed for this construction. The proper dielectric material can then be chosen, the number of spacings and plates between them can be decided upon and r0 and ri, can then be scaled to the proper size to produce the value called for in the above equation.

In practice, actually it is better to estimate a slightly higher value of Co than the one actually existing in the circuit.

It is necessary also to point out that in the above `equations all lumped and stray circuit capacity -Cp has 16 been considered to be in parallel with the straight line frequency capacitor.

That such a straight line frequency capacitor may be built following the above described procedure becomes evident when taking into consideration the curves shown in Figure 12. Figure 12 is, in fact, a plot of the angular rotation of the rotor plate 295 with respect to the stator plates, versus four U. H. F. bands.

More specifically, plot A is for one of the lower frequency bands. Plot B is for an intermediate frequency band. Plots C and D are for the highest frequency bands.

From Figure 12 it is seen that plots A, B, C and D approximate a straight line in the desired regions.

It was mentioned earlier that the same kind of straight line frequency capacitor can be built in the preselector. While this is not shown in Figure 3, it is shown diagrammatically in its physical appearance in Figures 2 and 4, respectively. In Figure 2 the preselector tuning capacitances are denoted as previously mentioned by numerals 130, 131, the same numerals being also used for the same capacitors of Figure 4.

Capacitor 130 consists of stator plates 350 and 351. Stator plate 350 is mounted on an insulating block 353 secured on the base 246 of chassis 200 in any suitable way. Stator plate 351 is connected to ground, that is, to the base 240 of chassis 200 and on both ends. More specifically, at one end 354 it is firmly secured and in good electrical engagement with the grounding block of the type previously described and denoted, therefore, with the same numeral 121 as used in Figure 3.

The other capacitor 131 is also provided with a pair of stator plates, one of which is the previously mentioned 351 and the other stator plate 355. Stator plate 355 is mounted on an insulating base 356 secured to base 240 of chassis 200 by any appropriate means, as, for example, a screw 357. Insulating blocks 353 and 356 serve to maintain plates 350 and 355 above ground, the ground being connected to the other plate of capacitors 130, 131, that is, plate 351.

Since, as described in connection with Figure 2, capacitances 130, 131 have the function of tuning the preselector so that it may pass the desired frequencies, it is possible to do without the previously mentioned trimmer capacitors 23 and 46. Actually, of the two, only trimmer 46 is eliminated since the adjustment obtainable with trimmer 23 serves to accurately balance one part of the preselector, the part to which capacitor 130 is connected with the other part of the preselector in which capacitor 131 is connected.

Plate 351 serves also as a shielding device between the above-mentioned two portions of the preselector.

The remaining parts of the circuit remain unchanged with respect to the embodiment shown in Figures l and 3 and are thereby denoted by the same numerals with the exception of the injecting device.

Referring in fact to the embodiment of Figure 4, shaft 296, which as previously mentioned carries variable plate 295 of capacitor Si) extends beyond capacitor so as to carry also plates 360 and 361 of capacitors and 131 in the preselector stage, so that a single rotation of shaft 296 produces the necessary changes in the capacitance of capacitors 85, 130 and 131.

While one end 238 of shaft 236 extends through the front plate 201 of chassis 290, the other end 301 extends through back plate 202 of chassis 200, through an appropriate opening in chassis 200, serving as a bearing.

The portion 358 of shaft 296, intermediate between capacitors 85 and 131 is silver plated so that plated springs 359 and 360 are obtained at the portions of section 358 direct to plates 285 and 355 of capacitors 85 and 131.

In this second embodiment, plates 285 and 355 are provided with conductive plates 361 and 362 respectively, shown in Figure 4 as perpendicular to plates 285 and 355. Plates 361 and 362 may be obtained from plates 285 and 355 by appropriate stamping.

By such an arrangement of platings 359 and 360 connected'by the plating portion 358 yor shaft 396 and conductive plates 361 and'362 two variable coupling capacitors or movable injection points are obtained since as shaft 296 is, rotated the area of tapered platings 359 and 360 directly facing plates 361 and 362 varies.

The variation is such that minimum capacitance or coupling exists between plating 359 and plate 361 and plating 360 and plate 362" when capacitors 85 and 131 are set to minimum capacitance and maximum frequency.

Thus as the frequency is changed through rotation of shaft 296, the amount of injection into the mixer 4'8 is also changed in a desired way to obtain optimum and constant conversion at all frequencies.

As for plates 360 and 361, in this example made of brass, their shape may be determined as described in connection with Figures l1 and l2'.

Channel selecting capacitor 85 may also be provided with positive positioning means as shown in Figure I3. In Figure 13 a disc 400 is rigidly secured by suitable means, as for example a bushing 401, on shaft 296 through which plate 295 is moved with respect to plates 285 and 286 of capacitor 85.

Disc 400 is provided with circumferential notches 402 equal in number to the number of channels in each band so that if each band encompasses ten channels to be selected through rotation of shaft 296, the notches 402 on disc 400 will also be ten. Cooperating with disc 400 is a resilient member 405 secured to chassis 200 in any suitable way and carrying at one end a roller 407 for engaging successively notches 402 at rotation of shaft 296.

Disc 400 is positioned on shaft 296 so that when one notch 402 is engaged by roller 407, capacitor 85 is tuned for reception of a particular channel in the band determined by the position of discs 30, 35, 91, 97.

To provide fine tuning, bushing 401 may have a cutout portion 410, and shaft 296 may be provided with a pin 411 so that play is obtained between stops 412 and 413, the amount of play being determined by dimensions of cut-out 410.

By the means described above, it is then possible to have complete discrete tuning not only in the band level but also in the channel level in addition to any desired amount of ne tuning. n

It will be noted that the channel selector was described as being a variable capacitance. Such a variable capacitor can be substituted with appropriate changes in circuitry with a variable inductance.

Moreover, although one method of netuning was described above, many other such means will now be apparent to persons well versed in the art.

It will be noted (see Figure 3) that provisions are made for releasably securing shaft 210 in bearings 207 and 208 of chassis 200. Such means, as shown in Figure 3, may consist of a wire spring 420 secured at one fend to a1 screw 421 and at the other bearing against a second screw, not shown. Holding means 420, 421 and the second screw are duplicated in the rear plates 202 of chassis 200.

When it is desired to mount shaft 210 in chassis 200, the wire springs 420 are removed from engagement with screws 421, and shaft 210 is slid into position in bearings 207 and 208. l

Wire springs 420 are then bent to reengage screws 421 to firmly hold shaft 210 in its bearings 207 and 208.

The rotatable structure consisting of plates 30, 35, 91, 97 and disc 212 is mounted on shaft 210 by spot welding hubs 266 and 213 on shaft 210 while maintaining them in good alignment by means of a jig. Plates 30, 35, 91 and 97 are then mounted on the hubs 266 by appropriate means, for example, screws.

It is found that such spot welding mounting is sufficient to maintain the same mechanical alignment during the life of this novel tuner.

Other means for maintaining such an alignment can,

18 of course,'be used: for example, additional shafts parallel to shaft 210 which tie together plates 30, 35, 91 and 97 and positioning disc 212. -By means of such tie bars, the mounting operation of structures 30-35-91-97- 212 becomes `also simpler since now good alignment is certainly arrived at during assembly.

In the foregoing, I have described this invention only in connection with preferred embodiments thereof. Many variations and modifications of the principles of this inventi-on within the scope of the description herein are obvious. Accordingly I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a discrete type tuner for selection of U. H. F. channels, an oscillator supplying heterodyning signals, said oscillator comprising a fixed circuit and a rotatable structure, a multi-electrode electron tube in said fixed circuit and a plurality of male contacts connected to the electrodes of said electron tube, said rotatable structure consisting of a pair of dielectric plates, a shaft for rotating said structure, said dielectric plates being fixedly mounted on said shaft for rotation with said shaft, tuning means mounted on said dielectric plates, a plurality of female contacts also mounted on said dielectric plates and connected to the terminals of said tuning means and extending outwardly of said dielectric plates for engagement with said plurality of male contacts at rotation of said shaft to tune said oscillator to individual bands of ultrahigh frequency, said tuning means consisting of reactance elements, coupling means between one reactance element on one plate .and the corresponding reactance element on the other plate, ysaid coupling means including a variable capacitor for selecting U. H. F. channels and a variable capacitor for adjusting the band spread, said coupling means producing equal band spread irrespective of the position of any band in the U. H. F. range.

2. In a discrete type tuner for selection of U. H. F. channels, an oscillator supplying heterodyning signals, said oscillator comprising a fixed circuit and a rotatable structure, a multi-electrode electron tube in said fixed circuit and a plurality of male contacts connected to the electrodes of said electron tube, said rotatable structure consisting of a pair of dielectric plates, a shaft for rotating said structure, Ysaid dielectric plates being fixedly'mountedy on said shaft for rotation with said shaft, tuning means mounted on said dielectric plates,r a plurality of female contacts also mounted on said dielectric plates and connected to the terminals of said tuning means and extending outwardly of said dielectric plates for engagement with said plurality of male -contacts at rotationv of said shaft to tune said oscillator to individual bands 0f ultra high frequency, said tuning means consisting of reactance elements, capacitive coupling means between one reactance element on one plate and the corresponding reactance element on the other plate, said coupling means being variable and producing equal band spread irrespective of the position of any band in the U. H. F. range, one plate of said coupling capacitor being mounted on one of said dielectric plates, the other plate of said coupling capacitor being mounted on the other dielectric plate in alignment with the first, said capacitor plates being ring shaped, a dielectric cylinder mounted in the interiorv of both of said ring shaped plates forming the said coupling capacitor, screw means movable in the interior of said dielectric cylinder for Varying the capacitance between the said two capacitor plates.

3. In a discrete type tuner for selection of U. H. F. channels, :an oscillator supplying heterodyning signals, said -oscillator comprising a fixed circuit and -a structure rotatable with respect -to said fixed circuit, a multi-electrode electron tube in said fixed circuit, a plurality of male contacts also in said lixed circuit and connected to the electrodes of said electron tube, tuning means mounted 2,81 Les? on said rotatable structure, a plurality of female contacts at the terminals of said tuning means and extending outwardly of said rotatable structure for engaging the` said plurality of male contacts at rotation of said structure to tune said oscillator to individual bands of ultra-high frequency, said tuning means consisting of pairs of inductance-capacitance series circuits, means coupling the series circuits in each pair and producing equal band spread irrespective of the band being tuned, and means for tuning said oscillator to individual frequencies within the said U. H. F. bands, said individual frequency tuning means comprising a variable capacitor, a second plurality of male contacts connected to the plates of the said variable capacitor, a second plurality of female contacts at theother terminals of said rotatable tuning means and extending outwardly of said rotatable structure for engaging the said second plurality of male contacts yat rotation of said structure.

4. In a discrete type tuner for selection of U. H. F. channels, an oscillator supplying heterodyning signals, said oscillator comprising a fixed circuit and a structure rotatable with respect to said fixed circuit, a multi-electrode electron tube in said fixed circuit, a plurality of male contacts also in said fixed circuit, a plurality of male contacts also in said fixed circuit and connected to the electrodes of said electron tube, tuning means mounted on said rotatable structure, a plurality of female contacts at the terminals of said tuning means and extending outwardly of said rotatable structure for engaging the said plurality of male contacts at rotation of said structure to tune said oscillator to individual bands of ultra-high frequency, said tuning means consisting of pairs of inductance-capacitance series circuits, means coupling the series circuits in each pair and producing equal band spread irrespective of the band being tuned, and means for tuning said oscillator to individual frequencies within the said U. H. F. bands, said individual frequency tuning means comprising a variable capacitor, a second plurality of male contacts integral with the plates of the said variable capacitor, a second plurality of female contacts at the other terminals of said rotatable tuning means and extending outwardly of said rotatable structure for engaging the said second plurality `of male contacts at rotation of said structure, means for varying the capacitance between the said capacitor plates, a shaft operating said capacitor varying means.

5. In a discrete type tuner for selection of U. H. F. channels, an oscillator supplying heterodyning signals, said oscllatorcomprising a fixed circuit and a structure rotatable with respect to said fixed circuit, a multi-electrode electron tube in said fixed circuit, a plurality of male contacts also in said fixed circuit and connected to the electrodes of said electron tube, tuning means mounted on said rotatable structure, a plurality of female contacts at the terminals of said tuning means and extending outwardly of said rotatable structure for engaging the said plurality of male contacts at rotation of said struct'ure to tune said oscillator to individual bands of ultra high frequency, said tuning means consisting of pairs of inductance-capacitance series circuits, means coupling the series circuits in each pair and producing equal band spread irrespective of the band being tuned, and means for tuning said oscillator to individual frequencies within the said U. H. F. bands, said individual frequency tuning means comprising a variable capacitor, a second plurality of male contacts connected to the plates of the 20 said variable capacitor, a second plurality of female contacts at the other terminal of said rotatable tuning means and extending outwardly of said rotatable structure for engaging the said second plurality of male contacts at rotation of said structure, means for varying the capaci.

tance between the said capacitor plates, a-shaft operating said capacitor varying means, discrete positioning and tine tuning means mounted on said shaft, means tixedly mounted on said tuner and cooperating with said discrete and tine tuning means.

' 6. ln a discrete type tuner for selection of U. H. F. channels, an oscillator supplying heterodyning signals, said oscillator comprising a fixed circuit and a structure rotatable with respect to said fixed circuit, a mu1ti-elec trcde electron tube in said fixed circuit, a plurality of male contacts also in said fixed circuit and connected to the electrodes of said electron tube, tuning means mounted on said rotatable structure, a plurality of female contacts at the terminals of said tuning means and extending outwardly of said rotatable structure for engaging the said plurality of male contacts at rotation of said structure to tune said oscillator to individual bands of ultrahigh frequency, said tuning means consisting of pairs of inductive circuits for tuning the lower frequency bands and consisting of pairs of inductance-capacitance series i circuits for tuning at the higher frequency bands, said series capacitance permitting the use of series inductances of controllable dimensions, means coupling the series circuits in each pair and producing equal band spread irrespective of the band being tuned.

7. In a discrete type tuner for selection of U. H. F. channels, an oscillator supplying heterodyning signals, said oscillator comprising a fixed circuit and a structure rotatable with respect to said fixed circuit, a multi-elecfrode' electron tube in said fixed circuit, a plurality of male contacts also in said fixed circuit and connected to the electrodes of said electron tube, tuning means mounted on said rotatable structure, a plurality of female contacts at the terminals of said tuning means and extending outwardly of said rotatable structure for engaging the said plurality of male contacts at rotation of said structure to tune said oscillator to individual bands of ultrahigh'frequency, said tuning means consisting of pairs of inductive circuits for tuning the lower frequency bands and `consisting of pairs of inductance-capacitance series circuits for tuning at the higher frequency bands, said series capacitance permitting the use of series inductances of controllable dimensions, means coupling the series circuits in each pair and producing equal band spread irrespective of the band being tuned, and means for tuning said oscillator to individual frequencies within the said U. H. F. bands.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

